Alfresco dining turns a meal into a memory: the clink of glasses in open air, the scent of sea or vine, the slow permission to stay awhile. This guide chases that feeling across Australia, from Bistro C’s toes-in-the-sand tables in Noosa to Courabyra’s breezy Tumbarumba deck, Major Mitchell’s sunlit Carnegie footpath, Lindenderry’s rose-framed terrace in Red Hill and The Boat House’s lake-cooled verandah in Barton.
Expect flavours that match the view - coastal freshness, country comfort and vineyard elegance, with warm service and a view worth toasting. Book ahead, settle into the sunshine and let every long lunch stretch into dusk gently.
Bistro C in Noosa Heads is a beachfront favourite where salt air and good taste meet all day, from breakfast to sunset. Just off Hastings Street, its pale timber interiors open to sweeping views of Main Beach, giving every meal a holiday glow. Outside, alfresco tables sit beneath pandanus and umbrellas, perfect for long lunches as waves roll in and the light fades gold.
The kitchen keeps things fresh and coastal: pristine seafood, crisp salads, citrusy dressings and vibrant share plates, matched with local wines and easy cocktails. Service is polished yet relaxed, making the whole place feel effortlessly Noosa.
Courabyra Wines Restaurant in Tumbarumba feels like a country secret worth the drive. Set beside the winery and ringed by rolling hills, it marries cool-climate polish with slow, generous hospitality. Indoors, warm timber, wide windows, and a Winter fire frame vineyard vistas; outdoors, alfresco tables spill onto the deck and lawn, perfect for lingering lunches with a breeze scented by eucalyptus.
The kitchen leans regional and seasonal: smoked trout, tender lamb, garden vegetables and berry-bright desserts. Pair it all with estate Pinot Noir or Chardonnay and the afternoon unfolds in easy, alpine calm, with friendly staff who know your glass.
Major Mitchell Cafe in Carnegie is the kind of neighbourhood spot that turns a quick coffee into a ritual. Tucked along Grange Road, it hums from early morning with locals chasing silky flat whites and bright, seasonal brunches. Inside, it’s airy and unfussy - white walls, timber tables, the soft clatter of plates - while outside, alfresco seats line the footpath for easy people-watching in the sun.
The menu is fresh and generous: chilli-scrambled eggs, roasted mushrooms, stacked salads and golden fritters with citrus and herbs. Come afternoon, cakes tempt the cabinet and the streetside chatter lingers leaving you happy to stay a while.
The Dining Room at Lancemore Lindenderry in Red Hill is a quietly luxurious retreat among Mornington Peninsula vineyards. Set in a modern farmhouse, it balances candlelit elegance with rural ease. Broad windows draw in garden and vine views and the menu mirrors the landscape: estate-grown vegetables, local seafood, fragrant herbs and slow-cooked meat plated with calm precision.
Outside, alfresco dining spreads across a sunlit terrace edged by roses and lavender, ideal for lingering lunches as kookaburras call and glasses of Peninsula Pinot catch the light. Dessert might be baked stone fruit with honey, ending the meal in mellow, coastal warmth.
The Boat House in Barton is Canberra at its most romantic, perched beside Lake Burley Griffin with water glinting through the gums. Inside, the dining room is soft-lit and polished, designed to let the view do the talking. Outside, alfresco tables sit on the deck, perfect for long lunches as rowers slip past and breezes carry the lake’s cool scent.
The kitchen leans Modern Australian with a fine-dining edge - delicate seafood, seasonal vegetables and beautifully paced courses - matched by a thoughtful wine list from an excellent cellar. Arrive for cocktails as the sky blushes at dusk. It’s serene, celebratory and unmistakably lakeside.
